Combined casket and grave vault



Nov. 4, 1941. B. E. LAMBERT COMBINED CASKET AND GRAVE VAULT Filed March 24, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l gin UM Nov. 4, 1941. a. E. LAMB ERT COMBINED CASKET AND GRAVE VAULT Filed March 24, 1939 2' Sheets-Sheet 2 QwN M M W abhor/wag Patented Nov. 4, 1941 UNHTED STAT CORBINED CASKET AND GRAVE VAULT Q Bernice E. Lambert, Columbus, Ohio Application March 24, 1939, Serial No. 263,976 I Claims.

This invention relates to burial equipment and is particularly directed to a combined casket and grave vault. The primary object resides in the provision of a grave vault having a separable base and cover, the base being provided with a casket permanently formed therewith. This type of burial device is desirable since it can be constructed more economically than separate vaults and caskets and it may be so constructed that it will occupy less space than the conventional vault, thus requiring less room in the cemetery. Another advantage is the reduction in weight of the finished device when compared with conventional steel or concrete vaults.

Another object of the invention resides in providing the base with a continuous flange at its upper edges, which flange is formed with a sealing compound receiving groove and the lower edge of the cover section is formed with a similar flange having a downwardly extending continuation which will be positioned in the groove when the members are assembled.

Another object is the provision of handle means which extend above the upper edges of the base and serve as guides to facilitate the assembly of the base and cover sections.

A further object of the invention resides in providing the base with a casket body having low side walls, the upper edges being insubstantial registration with the handle so that the handle may be employed in supporting the overthrow of the casket lining when the casket is open. This feature provides for the use of soft lining materials from which stiffening may be omitted.

A still further object rests in providing the side walls of the casket with vertically extending guides for the reception of a pillow frame. This frame is adjustable to-diiierent heights to simulate a couch or other similar piece of furniture.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which the invention has been illustrated in its preferred form.

Fig. 1 is a vertical-transverse sectional view taken through a combined casket and grave vault formed; in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View of the vault and casket shown in Fig. 1, portions thereof being shown in side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional View of one end of the casket showing the pillow frame in an elevated position;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line IV-IV of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view illustrating means for holding the pillow frame in an elevated position; 1

- Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view onan enlarged scale showing the joint between the vault base and cover;

Fig. 7 is a similar View showing the cover held in spaced relation from the base to maintain the flange extension in separate relation from the sealing groove;

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view of the member used to clamp the base and cover in assembled relation;

' Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view taken through,

the sealing joint of a modified form of vault cover and base.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral I designates the base of the combined casket and grave vault. This base is formed with a closed bottom wall 2 provided at its periphery with upstanding "side walls 3 which terminate at their upper edges in inwardly di- I rected flanges '4. To the inner edges of the flanges 4, there are secured, by welding or other suitable operation, the lower edges of the casket side walls 5. These walls terminate at their lower edges in laterally directed flanges B in which are formed compound receiving grooves I. At the corners of the casket, the walls will be joined to connect the flanges 6 and transform the separate grooves 1 into one continuous groove. At the time of fabrication of the device, the grooves 1 may be filled with a suitable seal- 7 ing compound, the purpose of which will be hereinafter set forth.

The upper edges of the walls 5 are turned inwardly and'downwardly as at 8 to provide a rim for the casket body. Wooden strips are secured to the walls beneath the rim for the purpose of fastening the casket lining thereto. On one side of the casket body, the rim is provided with hinge means 9, the movable portions of which are connected to the rim" formed at the lower edge of the casket lid It]. In the present instance, the

lid II], has an arcuate top wall ll having flanges at its edges which connect with similar flanges hinge 9 may be so constructed that the lid may be removed to give the casket the appearance of a couch.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, one end of the casket body has its side walls provided with vertically extending guides l3 for the reception of tongues I4 formed in connection with a pillow frame Hi. The upper surface of this frame may be suitably upholstered to match the interior of the casket. By moving the pillow frame from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3, the casket will be made to look still more like a couch, The guides may be so constructed as to frictionally grip the portions [4 or, as shown in Fig. 5, the casket walls may be provided with spring stops l6, each of which comprises aflat strip secured at its lower end to the side wall braces l1. Adjacent their upper ends, the strips l6 have inwardly directed shoulders l8 for engagement with notches formed in the pillow frame. When the shoulders of the strips are positioned in the notches, the frame will be held in an elevated position. If desired to lower the frame, the upper ends of the spring strips may be moved outwardly to dislodge the shoulders l8 from the notchesp To facilitate this operation, the ends of the strips project through openings l9 formed in the casket body rim.

To facilitate the operation of raising the pillow frame, the ends of this member have been provided with tapes Ia. By pulling these tapes through suitable slots formed in the casket lining, the pillow frame may be elevated. If friction is employed to hold the pillow frame in its elevated position, the frame may be lowered by pu hing it downwardly. If the locks shown in Fig. 5 are used, the release thereof will permit the frame to drop by its own weight.

The base side walls 3 are provided at spaced intervals with upwardly extending handle straps 20 to the upper ends of which is secured a carrying handle 2| which is formed of oval shaped tubing and extends completely around the casket. The handle is spaced from the side walls of the casket to permit the side walls of the cover to pass therebetween when the cover is being applied to the base. The length of the straps 20 is sufficient to position the upper edge of the handle in the'same horizontal level as the rim of the casket body. By this provision, the handle will operate as a support for the overthrow of the casket lining when the casket is in an open position. Heretofore, it was necessary to supply the lining with stiffening material to improve the appearance when the lining was draped over the edge of the casket during the time a body therein was exposed to view. This stiffening interfered with the folding of the casket lining when it Was desired to close the casket. By providing a support for the lining, the stiffening may be eliminated and this difiiculty overcome.

After the casket has been closed, the cover member 22 may be applied by passing the lower ends of the side walls between the handle 2| and the casket. The lower edges of the cover side walls terminate in inwardly directed flanges 23 having downwardly directed extensions 24 at their inner edges which when the cover is applied to the base enter the sealing groove 1 and are surrounded by the compound therein, thus sealing the wall against the entrance of moisture or air. In certain instances, it may be desired to form the vault from non-ferrous metals and to eliminate paint or other finishing material from the groove and the extension 24.

These elements would then be coated with a flux and immediately, prior to the application of the cover, molten metal would be poured into the groove. When the cover is then applied, there would be a permanent bonding between the side walls of the groove, the compound and the extension 24 to seal the vault. When the cover is positioned on the base, the flange 23 engages the flange 4 on the base and the load of the cover will be directly received by the side walls of the base. The upwardly directed handle straps 20 serve as means for guiding the cover in the operation of applying it to the base and insures the entrance of the extension 24 into the groove 1.

The sealing compound is positioned in the groove 1 at the factory where the combined casket and vault is manufactured prior to shipment thereof and to permit the assembly of bases and covers for shipping purposes, yet prevent premature sealing of the vault, the cover is held in spaced relation from the base flange by a plurality of wooden blocks 25. These blocks are each formed with a slot to receive the flange extensions 24 and are positioned on the flange of the base.

In some instances, the sealin compound may become partially hardened and offer undue resistance to the passage of the flange extension 24 thereinto. Such resistance may be overcome by providing the sides of the vault cover with latch members 26 as illustrated in Fig. 8. These latch members each include a body member 21 formed from sheet metal and having rearwardly directed ears 28 at the sides, which are perforated at their upper ends to receive a pivot 29. Between the ears, the pivot extends through links 30 having a pivotal connection with a lug 3| carried by the side of the vault cover. When the cover is applied to the base, the hook-shaped lower end 32 of the body is positioned below the handle 2|. The upper end of the body 21 is then pushed toward the cover. This movement will cause the link 30 to pivot on the pin extending through the lug 3| and the cover will be forced downward. After the pivot 29 passes through the vertical plane of the handle, the latch will be locked. The upper end of the body 21 extends above the pivot 29 to permit the ready release of the latch.

By the construction above described, it will be apparent that a rigid casket may be provided with the use of relatively light gage materials. The base of the casket will be formed of a slightly heavier material to render the device more rigid and permit ordinary handling without the usual twist or buckling of caskets constructed of light gage material. This rigidity is also increased by the peouliar formation of the handle. By combining the casket and vault, the resulting structure may be reduced in size which will permit it to be buried in crowded cemeteries where space is at a premium. As the corners of the cover are welded shut, the entrance of moisture will be resisted even if a perfect seal at the lower edge of the cover is not secured, by the air entrapped.

As illustrated in Fig. 9, the flange 23a may be directed outwardly from the vault wall to position the down-turned extension at the peripheral edge of the vault. This arrangement is provided to make the sealing operation less difficult when quick setting compounds, such as molten metal, are employed to seal the vault. By turning the flange outwardly, the cover may be applied prior to the introduction of the sealing compound. In this form, the groove is disposed as close to the Wall as in conveniently possible to locate the vault side walls in spaced relation to the casket side walls. In both forms of the invention, the extension 24 is shorter than the depth of the groove to permit a free flow of the sealing compound from one side of the extension to the other.

While the invention has been illustrated in its preferred form, the construction may be varied considerably without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a combination casket and grave vault of the type having a base with relatively low side walls, casket side walls spaced inwardly from said base walls to provide a seat, and a separable domeshaped cover having depending side walls with flange means at the lower edges thereof, strap means carried by said base side walls and extending upwardly above said seat, and a handle carried by said strap means, said straps serving to guide said cover in the assembling operation to facilitate the positioning of said cover flanges on said seat and prevent engagement of said cover walls with said casket side walls.

2. In a combined casket and grave Vault, a base member provided with upwardly directed low side walls, inwardly extending flanges formed at the upper edges of said side walls, vertical casket side walls integrally secured to the flanges in inwardly spaced relation from said base side walls, said side walls and base receiving lining material, spaced handle straps secured to the side walls of said base member, and an endless handle carried by said handle straps, said straps extending upwardly from said base and being of a length sufficient to position the upper edge of said handle substantially in registration with the upper edges of said casket side wall, said handle serving as a support for the over-throw of the casket lining material.

3. In a combined casket and grave vault, a base member provided with upwardly directed low side walls, inwardly extending flanges formed at the upper edges of said side walls, said flanges being provided with longitudinally extending sealing-compound receiving grooves, vertical casket side walls integrally secured to said flanges in inwardly spaced relation from said grooves,

a separable dome-shaped vault cover having depending side walls, flange means provided at the lower edges of said side walls, said flange means terminating in downwardly directed extensions, strap means carried by said base side walls, and handle means carried by said straps, said straps extending upwardly in spaced relation from said casket side walls and serving to guide said cover in the operation of applying the same to said base. to prevent engagement of said cover walls with said casket walls and to facilitate the positioning of said cover flange extensions in said grooves.

4. In a combined casket and grave vault, a base member provided with upwardly directed low side walls, inwardly extending flanges formed at the upper edges of said side walls, said flanges being provided with longitudinally extending sealing-compound receiving grooves, vertical casket side walls integrally secured to said flanges in inwardly spaced relation from said grooves, a dome-shaped vault cover having depending side Walls, flange means provided at the lower edges of said side walls, said flange means terminating in downwardly directed extensions, the length of said extensions being less than the depth of said grooves, strap means carried by said base side walls, and handle means carried by said straps, said straps extending upwardly in spaced relation from said casket side walls and serving to guide said cover in the operation of applying the same to said base to prevent engagement of said cover walls with said casket walls and to facilitate the positioning of said cover flange extensions in said grooves.

5. In a combined casket and grave vault, a base member provided with upwardly directed low side walls, inwardly extending flanges formed at the upper edges of said side walls, vertical casket side walls integrally secured to the flanges in inwardly spaced relation from said base side walls, said side walls and base receiving lining material, spaced handle straps secured to the side walls of said base member, and handle means provided at the upper end of said handle straps, said handle means extending the full length of said side walls at the front and back of said device, the length of said straps being such'as to position said handle means in registration with the upper edge of said side walls.

BERNICE E. LAMBERT. 

